He is starting out at or near the bottom, then? Not such a bad thing in the big scheme of things.

If he's looking to have an actual credible career he should be fighting people in his own weight class, starting out with inexperienced ones and working up. Freak-show matches aren't going to make him a better fighter.

I assume he is taking what K-1 gives him? How much control does he have in that system over who/when he fights. Of course, your are correct, though. I'm guessing he will work his way up the ladder/system. I'm no expert, but I'd say he has a long way to go before fighting skilled guys his weight class with a decent chance of success.

He doesn't have to fight for K-1.
If history is any guide they will have him beat up a couple more undersized no-hopers/kick-boxers who don't know how to grapple and then toss him in with Overeem or Fedor at two weeks notice.
Definitely. In addition, what he's doing is not the way to get there.

So, you think he is just earning some money and knows what is going on, or is being taken advantage of ? Or both?

So, you think he is just earning some money and knows what is going on, or is being taken advantage of ? Or both?

Hard to form an opinion, not knowing the man. Going from his public image he doesn't strike me as notably full of guile and cunning and he made a lot of noise about wanting to train the right way, fight at the highest level etc. earlier on. So perhaps he's just being badly advised?

Hard to form an opinion, not knowing the man. Going from his public image he doesn't strike me as notably full of guile and cunning and he made a lot of noise about wanting to train the right way, fight at the highest level etc. earlier on. So perhaps he's just being badly advised?

It's hard to say. I would think there would be various routes to the top level he wants to achieve. My understanding is that the world of Japanese MMA is pretty convoluted, so I guess we'll just have to see how he develops over time.